Clothes-holding device



May 6 1924. 1,493,264

F. W. HENNESSY CLOTHES HOLDING DEVICE Filed Nov. 64 1922 Patented May 6, 1924.

UNITED STATES- FRANCIS W. HENNESSY, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

CLOTHES-HOLDINGDEVICE.

Application filed November 6, 1922. Serial No. 599,259.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS W. HEN- NnssY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new. and useful Improvements in Clothes-Holding Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in the construction of foldable holders for clothes; and the object of this invention is to provide such a holder adapted more particularly to be secured to a-window-frame on the outsideof a house, and to provide clothes line supporting arms adapted to be extended and locked in extended position to draw the clothes line tightly between them and to house the line when the arms are folded, to keep them clean and from the action of the elements; also to provide means for securing the arms in either folded or extended position; and is an improvement on my co-pending application Serial No. 544,634, filed March 17, 1922.

With these and other objects in View, the

invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully de scribed, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my improved, holder with its arms in extended position and secured to the outside of a window sill.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the arms folded and housing the clothes line to keep it clean and protect it from the elements.

Figure 3 is a perspective View of one of the arms removed, showing its inner side.

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation on line 44 of Figure 2, and showing the channel shaped base bar, and the channel-shaped arm as being folded into the channel of said base bar and housing the clothes line in the space between them.

Figure 5 is a section through the pivot joint where the arms are connected to the base bar.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section along a portion of one of the arms showing its pivot opening through one of the side flanges also showing portions of the body of the arm as being swaged from the plane of the stock to provide an attaching eye for clothes lines.

Figure 7 is a transverse end elevation: through the arm showing the channel form of the arm before the stock is pressed in wardly to form a clothes line receiving opening therein.

It is found in practice in some cases, in the constructionv of clothes line holders of this character to form the holder of sheet metal and to provide a basewba'r having its stock bent into channel form, and in some cases to also bend the-stock of the arms into channel form and to hinge one end ofeach arm to a base bar so that when the arms are folded upon the bar, a chamher is formed in which the clothes lineis housed to keep it clean and protect it from the weather; and the following is -'a detailed description of one means by which this result may beaccomplishedz- With reference to the drawings, 10 designates the base bar which is preferably made. of sheet metal and has its'side edges bent outwardly as at 11 to form a channelbar throughout its length.

The back of this bar is preferably slotted as at 12 to receive-the heads of the-screws 13 by which the bar is removably secured pierced as at 16 and hinged through the flanges of the bar, each by its pivot pin 17. At intervals along each of these arms, I 'have out, swaged or forced portions of the stock inwardly as at 18 and portion 19 outwardly thereby providing an outwardly rounding eye through which the 'bight of the clothes line '20 may be passed as it is led back and forth across the space 'between the arms. 1

' In order to lock these arms in extended position, I have provided a hook '21 secured to-an eye 22 in the arm, and I have provided an opening'23 in the lower flange of the bar intowhich the end of the hook is passed thereby providing a most con- 'venient means for securing the arms in extended position.

It will benoted that by forming eitherthe base bar or the arms of channel iron a chamber is provided in which the line may be most conveniently housed when the arms are in folded position to protect it from action of the weather, and keep it clean which in the free end of the opposite arm.

In attaching the line 20 to the arms it is only necessary to thread one end back and forth through the eye formed by the bars 18 in the arms thereby providing a length of line which may be from 20 to 30 feet long onto which a small washing may be readily hung, and after the Washing is dried and removed it is only necessary to unlatch the hooks 21, swing the arms inwardly against the base bar into the position illustrated in Figure 2, in which position the clothes line is securely housed, protected and kept clean and in this position it is only necessary to hook the latch 26 into an eye 23 and these arms will remain in closed position. In this folded position with the line so well protected the drier may be left outside if desired, or it may be readily removed from its supporting screws 18 and taken inside and secured against the wall to perform its function in the house which is of particular advantage during rainy Weather. The device is extremely simple and practical in construction and by'its use a small family wash may be readily supported without doors and within easy reach of the window.

This device is not restricted in its use to that ofa clothes holder but may be used forsaid arms to which a line may be connected, the channel portion of said arms being adjacent said bar and adapted to house the folded line therein when the arms are folded, and means for securing said arms either in folded or extended position.

2. A foldable holder, comprising a channel base bar adapted to be secured to a support, a pair of arms each hinged to said bar to swing outwardly therefrom, attaching members spaced along said arms to which the line may be connected, the channel portion of said bar being adjacent said arms and adapted to house the folded line therein when the arms are folded, and means for securing said arms either in folded or extended position.

3. A foldable holder for clothes comprising a channel base bar adapted to be secured to a support, a pair of channelarms having their flanges hinged to the flanges of said bar at one end to swing outwardly therefrom, attaching members spaced in the channels of said arms to which the clothes line may be connected to lead back and forth between the arms when extended, the channeled portions of both said arms and bar cooperating to receive and house the folded clothes line when the arms are folded, and means for securing said arms either in folded or extended position.

4. A foldable holder for clothes, comprising a channeled base bar adapted to be secured to a support, a pair of channeled arms, each hinged through its flanges to the flanges of said bar to swing outwardly therefrom, at-' taching means in the channel of each arm and integral therewith to which the clothes line.

may be connected and led'back and forth between the arms, the channeled portions of said arms and bar cooperating to house the folded clothes, line therein when the arms are folded, and means for locking the arms in either open or closed position.

5. A foldable holder for lines, comprising a base-bar having a laterally-projecting edge, a pair of arms, each hinged to said base-bar to swing outwardly therefrom, each arm alsohaving a laterally-projecting edge, attaching members spaced along said arms to which the line may be connected, said laterally-projecting edges on said base and arms cooperating when folded to provide a housing for the line.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. 

